All CB projections   •  Current CB rankings   •   All DET projections   •  DET team report

CB Leigh Bodden, Detroit Lions

HT: 6-1, WT: 200, Born: 9-24-1981, College: Duquesne, Drafted: ---

2008 Projections

Best Case

Shortly before the 2008 NFL draft, the Lions acquired Leigh Bodden from Cleveland as part of the Shaun Rogers deal. Bodden had a career year in 2007, finishing as the top ranked fantasy DB, and he has the size and skill set to be a solid Tampa-2 CB. The Lions defense figures to be on the field a lot this year, and if Bodden can continue to improve on his breakout 2007 season, he has a chance to once again be a top 10 DB.

Worst Case

Prior to last season, Bodden had never shown that he could be a viable starting CB. There is always the risk that he is a one-year wonder, and he still has a lot to prove as a starting NFL player. Although Bodden is physical and a solid tackler, he is not the best CB in man coverage. Should Bodden return to his pre-2007 form, he is likely to be a low-end fantasy starter at best.

Outlook

Bodden set personal bests in 2007 with 88 tackles and six interceptions. He is a big, physical corner who seems to be a perfect fit for the Tampa-2 defense that the Lions play. Bodden has improved his ball skills and is solid in zone coverage, but occasionally gets burned when playing man-to-man defense. Bodden is a sure tackler and should have a lot of chances to make plays in both pass and run defense. The Tampa-2 defense is a defense that can yield high tackle numbers and when combining that with Bodden's skill set, a mid to upper DB2 is possible with top ten upside.

Writeups last modified: 2008-06-15 12:13:39